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Gaza protest

War and conflict

More than one third of our projects are dedicated to providing assistance to people living in areas of war and armed conflict.

Armed conflict devastates lives. Targeted, harassed and trapped within hardship and poverty, people are often forced into flight. In other cases, people live under siege or in constant fear of  indiscriminate or even targeted attacks. In addition, people are often left impoverished without sufficient access to basic needs like food and medical care.

The consequences of war can be vast and catastrophic; from death and violence; to long-term lifechanging injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder; destroyed infrastructure and healthcare systems; as well as people being uprooted and forced to leave everything behind.

In conflict settings, depending on the priorities, we may set up operating theatres, clinics, nutrition programmes, epidemic control, medical care for victims of sexual violence, and maternity wards, among other services.

The consequences of war

 
IDPs Gathering Site in Kassala, Sudan
Conflict in Sudan

Displaced by war, people in eastern Sudan urgently need food, water and shelter

Project Update 26 Mar 2024
 
Collective Shelter for IDPs in Saida, South Lebanon
Lebanon

Five months into border conflict, displaced people’s needs are on the rise

Project Update 21 Mar 2024
 
Am Timan Hospital
Gaza-Israel war

Warring parties must ensure safety of staff and patients in Al-Shifa hospital

Press Release 18 Mar 2024
 
Violences and displacement in North Kivu
Democratic Republic of Congo

Massive humanitarian response needed to avoid health catastrophe in DRC

Interview 12 Mar 2024
 
Assisting Survivors of Sexual Violence in Kanyaruchinya
Women's health

Women on the frontline: Defying the consequences of conflict to care for each other

Project Update 8 Mar 2024
 
Conflict in Gaza
Gaza-Israel war

MSF President calls on UN member states to take urgent action in Gaza

Opinion 7 Mar 2024

We don’t take sides

In conflict zones, we do not take sides. It’s crucial for us to talk with all parties in a conflict to obtain access and provide assistance to affected communities. We will speak out about the suffering we observe, as well as any gross violations we may witness while providing assistance to people caught up in war and conflict. 

One of the ways we can maintain our independence is to ensure that all our funding for work in conflicts comes from private donors. Globally we accept very few government grants – three per cent of our total funding – and in war zones we do not use funds from governments that have any sort of tie with the conflict. 

Despite not supporting any of the warring parties, we are not always present on all sides of a conflict. This may be either because access is not granted to us by one or more of the parties, or due to insecurity, or because the main needs of people are already covered.

Our teams do not always have the capacity to fill every gap, however, we always put people in need first and provide them with the best medical care possible, no matter where they are from, what they believe in, or who they support.

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1 June 2018